Gary Johnson, Manager of Torquay United before the Vanarama National League match between Torquay United and Stockport County at Plainmoor Torquay, Devon on Saturday 30 Nov - PHOTO: Micah Crook/PPAUK

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Manager Gary Johnson called Torquay United's defending 'Billy Smart's Circus' after the Gulls had crashed to a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Stockport County, their heaviest home league loss for more than four years.

Nine weeks after beating County 4-0 at Edgeley Park, United conceded five second-half goals against them, on the way to a fifth successive defeat in league and cup.

It was the worst loss at Plainmoor since the 7-3 loss to Bromley in September 2015.

Ben Whitfield of Torquay United applauds supporters after the Vanarama National League match between Torquay United and Stockport County at Plainmoor Torquay, Devon on Saturday 30 Nov - PHOTO: Micah Crook/PPAUK

"This was a team that we beat with our tactics and our ability up there just a few weeks ago - today we got nowhere near it," said Johnson.

"We were very impotent at one end and Billy Smart's Circus at the back.

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"Our game was nowhere to be seen unfortunately, and me and my staff have got to work very hard this week to pull us out of this little slump we are in.

"All I can do is apologise for their performance, because that wasn't Torquay United over the last 18 months.

"It's up to the players to go home, sleep and dream about it and come in on Monday saying 'That's not going to happen to us again'.

"We made miles too many mistakes in and around our own penalty area."

Johnson added that he had already apologised to new signings Amrit Bansal-McNulty and Jared Lewington - 'When they watched the videos, they thought it was a decent team to come into," he said.

Gary Johnson, Manager of Torquay United before the Vanarama National League match between Torquay United and Stockport County at Plainmoor Torquay, Devon on Saturday 30 Nov - PHOTO: Micah Crook/PPAUK

United's lack of fit and available midfield players had forced Johnson into starting with captain Asa Hall, without a warm-up game after three months out. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, who had been out for the same time, replaced Hall in the second half.